Supreme Court to Hear Cases on Women’s Entry in Religious Places from April 7; Spotlight on Sabarimala Temple

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to begin hearings on April 7 regarding the entry of women into religious places, including the Sabarimala temple, access for Muslim women to mosques, and rights of Parsi women after inter-community marriages. A nine-judge Constitution Bench will hear the petitions, which were referred to the larger bench as a consolidated group of cases.

Timeline for Hearings

The Chief Justice-led bench indicated on Monday that the hearings are likely to conclude by April 22. All parties have been asked to submit written statements by March 14.

Review of Sabarimala Verdict

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union of India, expressed support for reviewing the 2018 Sabarimala verdict, which granted women of all ages the right to enter the temple. In 2020, the Supreme Court had directed that a nine-judge constitutional bench hear the review petitions related to Sabarimala.

Broader Implications of the Verdict

The original Sabarimala judgment recognized that religion is a way of life deeply connected to faith and divinity. While the majority bench emphasized religious freedom, Justice Indu Malhotra, in her dissent, argued that rational reasoning cannot always be applied to matters of faith. The upcoming hearings aim to provide clarity not only on Sabarimala but also on broader issues concerning women’s rights in religious spaces across India.